New York ? A jury strongly signaled Monday that it has found New York Knicks coach Isiah Thomas responsible for the sexual harassment of a fired Madison Square Garden executive, but was stumped on whether he should pay punitive damages for that.

The seven-member jury indicated it had bad news for Thomas in a note to the federal judge presiding over the case in Manhattan. The note said the jury had reached unanimous verdicts on eight of nine key questions in the sex harassment case filed by fired marketing official Anucha Browne Sanders, 44.

Although the jury didn’t disclose details of its verdict in the note to judge Gerard Lynch, they did note that they were hung by a 6-1 vote on the issue of whether they should slap Thomas with punitive damages. That particular question, legal sources close to the case said afterward, would need to be answered only if the jury had first found Thomas liable for the sexual harassment of Browne Sanders.

“We can’t seem to move forward, please advise,” jurors wrote Lynch in a note released at 4:40 p.m. Monday.

After conferring in open court with attorneys for Browne Sanders, Thomas, MSG and its chairman James Dolan, Lynch called the jurors back and gently told them to go home for the night, think about their decisions and come back today for another try. One of the three male jurors nodded eagerly in agreement with Lynch.

Rockets sign Mutombo

Houston – The Houston Rockets signed Dikembe Mutombo to a one-year contract on Monday, extending the 41-year-old center’s NBA career into a 16th season. The 7-foot-2, 260-pound Mutombo ended up playing a pivotal role for Houston last season, when Yao Ming broke a bone in his right leg and missed 33 games. Mutombo started in his place and averaged five points, 10 rebounds and 1.45 blocks.

Stoudamire out 2-3 weeks

Phoenix – Suns forward Amare Stoudemire will undergo minor arthroscopic knee surgery today but is expected to be sidelined only two to three weeks.

Massenburg in Wizards’ camp

Washington – Tony Massenburg, 40, signed with the Washington Wizards on Monday, a day before training camp opens, and if he makes the roster at the end of the month, he would have a chance to play for a league-record 13th franchise. He hasn’t played in the NBA since the 2004-05 season, when he averaged 3.2 points for the San Antonio Spurs.

Massenburg in Wizards’ camp

Washington – Tony Massenburg, 40, signed with the Washington Wizards on Monday, a day before training camp opens, and if he makes the roster at the end of the month, he would have a chance to play for a league-record 13th franchise. He hasn’t played in the NBA since the 2004-05 season, when he averaged 3.2 points for the San Antonio Spurs.